You May Be Able to Prevent Peanut Allergy

IN YOUR DAILY DOSE: is new research that suggests a strategy to prevent peanut allergies in your children.

MAKING CHANGES: Strategies don’t appear to reduce time breastfeeding nor compromise health. They’re easy to institute and may reduce your child’s risk of suffering from a peanut allergy.

FACT OR FICTION: today is a list of firsts. Have you been first at anything? How many of these firsts could you name?

In The News

Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease found introducing peanuts to your children early may help to reduce peanut allergies later in life. Primary results from the study in 2015 indicated that early introduction of peanuts to children who were at high risk for developing peanut allergies resulted in an 81 percent reduction in development, compared to avoiding them all together.

Quoted in Science Daily,

"The striking finding that early inclusion of peanut products in the diet reduces later development of allergy already is beginning to transform how clinicians approach peanut allergy prevention," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "The new results provide reassurance that early-life peanut consumption has no negative effect on children's growth and nutrition."

Researchers estimate 15 million Americans have food allergies and 1 in every 13 children suffer from food allergies. You may be able to reduce the potential for peanut allergy in your children with early introduction and save them the challenge of avoiding peanuts and peanut products for the remainder of their life.

Making Changes

Peanuts are legumes and not truly a nut. This is why people with peanut allergies are not necessarily also allergic to true nuts, such as almonds, walnuts or brazil nuts. Before introducing peanuts to your infant, speak with your pediatrician.

Researchers introduced peanut products in early infancy, before the children were taking solid food. The participants ate approximately 6 grams of peanut protein each week. However, peanut butter is very sticky and can be very difficult for a baby to consume.

If you are interested in trying this method, speak with a nutritionist or dietitian about what peanut products would be easy for your baby to eat.

Daily Affirmation

Support in any form helps me to maintain an attitude of gratitude. It reminds me that moving successfully through life is easier when you are holding someone's hand.

Fact or Fiction?

Firsts

Have you been first at something? Here are a few you may not have known:

1. Jerrie Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world in 1964.

2. In 1962 Joan Crawford was the first guest on the Johnny Carson show.

3. In 1965 Edward Higgins White was the first astronaut to walk in space.

4. In 1967 Carl Stokes was the first black to be elected mayor - Cleveland, OH.

5. In 1971 Bella Abzug was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress.

6. In 1972 Mark Spitz was the first U.S. Olympian to win 7 gold medals.